Joko Widodo wins vote tally in Indonesian presidential election

Chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) Megawati Soekarnoputri (R), Indonesia's presidential candidate from the PDIP Joko Widodo (C) and his running mate Jusuf Kalla (L) hold hands during a press conference ahead of announcement of recapitulation 2014 presidential election in Jakarta, Indonesia, July 22, 2014. The General Election Commission (KPU) is scheduled to release the vote tally results this afternoon, qualifying the winner of election. (Xinhua/Zulkarnain)

JAKARTA, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Governor of Indonesia's capital city Jakarta Joko Widodo was qualified to become the nation's new president after the General Election Commission (KPU) settled the vote tally on Tuesday, showing Joko's domination against rival Prabowo Subianto.

Delivering the official announcement on the winner of the vote tally, General Election Commission Chairman Husni Kamil Malik said Joko Widodo and his pairing Jusuf Kalla gained higher vote.

According to recapitulation of votes from 33 provinces across the country and polling booths in foreign countries held at KPU building, Joko Widodo and his Jusuf Kalla gained a total of 70,993, 444 votes nationwide, or accounted for 53.15 percent.

Meanwhile, Prabowo Subianto and Hatta Radjasa secured a total of 62,576,444 votes, or equals to 46.85 percent.

After announcement of the vote tally winner, Joko Widodo and his pairing would have to wait whether or not an appeal is filed in by his rival pairing to the Constitution Court (MK).

"There are three days of ample time for presidential candidate who is not satisfied with the vote tally results to file in complaint to MK. Later on, the MK will process the complaint and eventually would issue a binding and final decision that would be implemented by the KPU," Ikrar Nusa Bhakti, a political analyst at Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI) told Xinhua on Tuesday.

The final decision may vary from annulling the victory of election winner, or an order to hold re-voting if the MK considers it necessary based on the complaint.

"If the MK annulled the complaint, Joko Widodo would proceed to seize presidency and be installed as the nation's president on Oct. 20," Ikrar said, adding that the official announcement to officiate Joko Widodo and Jusuf Kalla as president and vice president would be delivered by the KPU after those appealing process in MK is settled.

Learning that Prabowo has unilaterally acquitted himself from the election process, Ikrar said filing in a complaint to MK is unlikely for Prabowo since he has already given up.

Prabowo quitted himself out from the presidential election process earlier in the day to the rampant frauds taking place in the election and poor response from the KPU to respond to the issue.

Prabowo also ordered his team to pullout from the vote recapitulation verification process at the KPU.

Responding to the ongoing situation, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security affairs Djoko Suyanto called on people to stay calm, stay alert and not to respond to provocative actions that could ruin the nation's stability.